Brake-valve-bleeding device



Oct. 23, 1928. 1,689,077

' U. MAHER BRAKE VALVE BLEEDING DEVICE Filed se t. 20, 1926 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

JOSEPH MAHER, OF STOCKTON, ILLINOIS.

BRAKE-VALVE-BLEEDING DEVICE.

Application filed September 20, 1926. Serial No. 136,577.

The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the time required for bleeding the brake valves of cars may be greatly reduced, and means whereby valves which fail to operate properly may be released'by the brakeman while the train is in motion, without the necessity of holding the valve open until the brakes release.

A further object is to provide a device which may be applied to present equipment with but little change in construction.

A further object is to provide gravity means for engaging and holding in an upper position either of the arms employed for opening the bleed valve, the gravity means being released by an element carried by the piston rod when the air bleeds out of the brake cylinder, and the piston recedes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming part of this applicatlon,

Figure 1 1s a view 1n longitudlnal section,

' with parts in elevation, the piston and piston rod for the brake cylinder being shown, the gravity devices for engaging the arms controlling the bleed valve, and the device on the piston rod for engaging the gravity devices and releasing the arms, also being illustrated.

Figure 2 is a view constituting a section on line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 3 is atop plan view showing the gravity devices and the elements which they control.

Figure 4 is a section thru the structure of the bleed valve or the casing therefor.

The brake piston 10 operates in cylinder 11, and has connection with piston rod 12, the latter carrying a releasing device, which may be of plate form and which is designated 14, being secured by means of a strap or other form of clamping device by means of which it is carried on the piston rod 12.

The bleed valve 16 is carried by a stem 17 and operates against the tension of spring 18 for opening port 19. The valve stem is controlled by arms 20 and 21, and when these armsare raised the valve is in the position of Figure 4, permitting the bleeding operation. I

Arms or levers 23 are pivoted, as at 24, and are weighted at one end as shown at 25, the opposite end portion 26 being adapted to move under one of the arms'20 or 21, as shown in Figure 4, and hold the arms in the position there illustrated, so that the valve will remain open, under the action of the gravity element until the air bleeds out of the cylinder. As the piston 10 moves to the left, the releasing device 14 carried by the piston rod will move in the same direction, in Figure 1, and the gravity device 25 will be engaged atabout the point 25, and the arm or lever 23 will be mechanically operated, the left end of element 23, as the construction is shown in Figure 1, moving downwardly, so that it will release from engagement with arm 21, and valve 16 returns to closed position. The pipe having communication with the air reservoir is designated 28. Arms 20 and 21 are formed with the usual upper transverse element 21" of a U-shaped structure, the middle portion of which directly'engages the valve stem, said portion 21 cooperating with stationary pins 21", and it may be added that casing 30 forms a base for the bleed valve and an element on which the levers 23 may be fulcrumed.

Having described the invention what is claimed is The combination with a bleed valve for an air brake cylinder; a piston within the cylinder, a rod connected with the piston, a stem 'for the valve, of a plurality of devices cooperating with the stem for opening the valve and constituting the arms of U-shaped valve operating means the middle portion of which engages the end of the valve stem, pivoted and weighted levers adapted to move respectively under said devices for retaining them temporarily in position for opening the valve, and an element carried by the piston rod and adapted to engage either of the weighted levers for releasing them from the devices acting upon the Valve. I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH MAI-IE3. 

